Tomasz Gudzowaty: Photography as a New Kind of Love Poem, Steidl, 85 USD
Polish artist Tomasz Gudzowaty personifies the multidimensional spirit of photography. Whether it's sophisticated portraiture, black-and-white wildlife photojournalism, or stark sports shots, Gudzowaty is of a rare breed that can adapt to any environment or situation at hand. This is the first monograph—arranged not chronologically, but rather by mood—that extensively covers all aspects of Gudzowaty's work throughout the past two decades, which are all unified by his constant and engaging investigation into the world around us.
Rodin, Flammarion, 29.95 USD
In the event you can't hop on an airplane and visit the Musée Rodin in Paris, this definitive monograph is definitely the next best thing. Few people will argue with the claim that Auguste Rodin is one of the greatest sculptors who's ever lived. His expressive, wholly unique style, which blurs the line between modernist and abstract sculpture, birthed a shocking amount of celebrated works throughout his lifetime, including The Kiss, The Thinker, and The Gates of Hell. This richly illustrated monograph does a deep dive into Rodin's life and work, which during his lifetime, was often the subject of controversy.
Paul Klee: Irony at Work, Prestel, 60 USD
The king of whimsy and lightheartedness, Paul Klee, is the focus of this career-spanning volume. This isn't your normal artistic exploration, though. Featuring more than 250 works, the volume tracks the trajectory of Klee's extensive oeuvre by honing in on its larger philosophical context. As we dig deeper, we discover that German Romanticism and satire had a lot to do with shaping his storied career. Art and philosophy have never looked so cool and colorful.
Out of Season, Abrams, 55 USD
Don't let the lingering legacy of MTV's nihilistic Jersey Shore taint your opinion of New Jersey's beaches. They are, in fact, quite lovely! This book takes a look at the prime coastal location of Wildwood, but not for the sweet boardwalk and sandy dunes—rather, the extraordinary well-preserved midcentury motels that dot the town. Some motels are on the verge of demolishment, some are facing an unknown future, and some are abundant with eager beachgoers. Regardless of their status, over the span of 10 years, photographer Mark Havens managed to capture the underlying kitschy spirit of each one. Don't blame us if you decide to road trip to Wildwood to check them out for yourself.
A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney, Thames & Hudson, 24.95 USD
David Hockney is undoubtedly one of the most prolific living artists—American or otherwise—and this book shines light on his usually sheltered life. It features incredibly detailed conversations between Hockney and art historian Martin Gayford, which give insight into Hockney's artistic process, inspirations, and wide-ranging body of work. At the ripe age of 79, Hockney is still chugging along with his creative output, and the surprising and revealing observations he makes throughout the book will leave you appreciating his genius even more.
Georgia O'Keeffe: Watercolors 1916-1918, Radius Books, 60 USD
Georgia O'Keeffe's watercolors are truly a sight to be seen. To coincide with the first major exhibition of her watercolors at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, those gorgeous, radical works from 1916-1918 are beautifully reproduced, at their full scale, in this monograph. By focusing specifically on O'Keeffe's watercolor works, we're able to bear witness to a seminal stage in her artistic formation, when she shied away from a disciplined approach and made a decisive turn toward abstraction and more revolutionary techniques. Expect to find watercolors ranging from the textured Texas landscape (where they were created) to O'Keeffe's own sensual body.
